Talk Less, Smile More
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
James 1:19
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Romans 8:14
I don’t know if you’ve had the chance to have seen the Broadway musical Hamilton while it was on its run, or if you’ve streamed it on Disney+ several times like I have, but the devotional title is a reference to a bit of advice Aaron Burr’s character gives the titular Alexander Hamilton when he first meets him. Hamilton’s character tends to be not only talkative but also frank and brash in sharing his thoughts on various subjects, which runs counter to how Aaron Burr’s character handles himself.
It’s advice that we could avail ourselves as well. It ties fairly well with the message James shares in the first chapter of his book, with an emphasis on the “talk less” part.
There were times at the beginning of my spiritual walk as an adult when I found myself realizing that I had either a) missed an opportunity to say something or b) reacted in a way to someone in a way that is perhaps less reflective of His presence. This realization oftentimes would happen at least a good while after the opportunity or incident, when it was too late to rectify the situation. I’m sure the Holy Spirit in me shook His head at my situation several times, wanting to thump me on mine each time words came out my mouth before my brain had fully formed them. As time went by and I was growing in maturity in Him, however, the time between the realization of the event and the actual event seemed to shrink, thus enabling me to quickly counter the effects of what I did or did not say or do.
After a while of this, I recognized that there were times that the Holy Spirit moved the proverbial time table, and that I was able to take the appropriate witness opportunity that was presented to me OR, a more likely scenario, to not say something or react to what was being presented to me—all while still in the moment.
I had always understood the sensible lesson behind the wisdom James shares in verse 19 of the first chapter of James: practice counting to 10 in those situations that can set you off, thereby allowing you to cool off and not overreact. And the “quick to hear and slow to speak” piece of it aligned with the truism of God giving us two ears and one mouth, so as to enable us to listen twice as much more than we speak. Made sense to me as quite practical advice. But, as I realized recently in prayer, it’s more than that. Heeding James’s words is an active way through which you yield your spirit to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Consciously and actively overcoming your natural response in heightened or unique situations and submitting yourself to the Holy Spirit allows Him to do His work in and through you.
Be quick to hear – truly seek to listen to what the other person is saying, and for what he or she is not saying. Strive to understand, relate, and validate or empathize, and to not judge or condemn. Focus on the relational aspect of the communication between you and the other person.
Be slow to speak – this is where those of us who pride ourselves on being the first to answer, or being quick with a clever response will find ourselves challenged to truly slow down and be sensitive to the Spirit. Doing this will help to ensure that our words are intentional and guided by Him.
Be slow to anger – this one seems pretty self-evident as to the purpose behind it, but I’m going to mention it anyway. Hot-tempered anger is not good for anyone, you or the other person, and it does nothing to help any situation. James also continues in verse 20 to say that “the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” Solomon tells us in Proverbs 14 that “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.”
Prayer Requests
· For Cheri Williams’s mother, who has a lung infection, and for Cheri and her family who are concerned about her
· For Pastor Ray and April, and Miss Dora, for their PCS to Washington DC, that the Lord grant peace, encouragement, and protection to their move and to their friends and family
· Praise and gratitude for the new faces the Lord is bringing into our church family!
· For us to be the church that Jesus calls us to be in the midst of what is going on in this world
Friends, I am constantly amazed at the work that the Holy Spirit does to lead us into all truth. Not only does the Lord tell us in His word how we should act in ways of righteousness and love, He also gives us the means by which to do, though His Spirit. May we never cease to praise Him for His goodness!
Quotes
“You grow when the Word of God means more to you than the words of people”. –Christine Caine
“If all your prayers were answered, would they change the world or just yours?”